Local Dental Programs: A Descriptive Assessment of Funding and Activities

The changing oral health status of older adults has focused attention on the need to broaden oral health promotion and prevention activities for this group. The Oral Health Working Group of the US Surgeon General's Workshop: Health Promotion and Aging recently reported that more activities are needed in education and service for older adults--areas that fall within the purview of state and local health agencies. Although dental public health programs for older adults have received more attention, the current breadth and variety of state dental health activities for older adults is unknown. This telephone survey of state dental health departments found that among the 10 states with the largest older adult populations, five were providing oral health programs for the elderly. The 30 states reporting the existence of oral health programs for the elderly account for 58 percent of the total US elderly population. Oral health activities were quite varied, with the majority of states focusing on institutionalized patients and their care givers. Respondents reported that access to dental consultants with gerontological training and information on model oral health programs for older adults would assist program development. Public health agencies play a significant role in improving the quality of life for the nation's elderly. Dental public health programs clearly have demonstrated the ability to improve health prevention and health promotion among younger populations. It is crucial to utilize these skills to begin to enhance the oral health and quality of life of older adults, as well.

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 83%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Description of Dental Public Health Programs for the Elderly

Strayer

1993

“…The last section attempted to identify how the dental program was functioning within the framework of a larger health organization and within the overall community. Further elaboration about the topic areas and the descriptive results are presented elsewhere (32)(33).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barrier Techniques and Hepatitis B Vaccine Policies in Dental Components of Local Health Agencies

Kuthy

Pruitt

et al. 1988

Self Cite

National health organizations have issued guidelines for barrier control techniques against infectious diseases and for inoculation against hepatitis B. This study surveys the policies of local health agencies regarding the safeguards used in protecting their employees. Local health agencies (N = 201) operating independently of state health departments were mailed questionnaires seeking information regarding glove, mask, and eyewear policies, as well as hepatitis B vaccine policies for new and current employees. Of the 156 programs returning the survey, 127 (76.6%) reported having a clinical component. Many agencies did not require infection control policies to be implemented for every patient. Agencies that had dental directors who have held their positions for fewer than four years were more likely to have requirements for gloves and masks than agencies run by directors with longer tenure. Those agencies that provided dental treatment to inmates at correctional institutions were also more likely to require infection control policies. The data indicate policy inconsistencies among local dental health programs nationwide. Of considerable concern is the fact that infection control was not identified as a priority for the near future. Many local health agencies would benefit from further education in infection control.

“…Discussion with officers from national associations representing state and local dental officers revealed a lack of data describing local dental programs. I used information from a survey of dental programs in local health agencies (13). This study surveyed approximately 200 programs in 33 states, or an average of six programs perstate.…”

Section: Demand Estimationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Marketing Strategy for the Dental Public Health Profession: What Is It? Why Is It Needed?

Simon-Rusinowitz

1988

A personnel management problem exists within dental public health that interferes with its mission of improving the nation's oral health. A major cause of this problem may be that many administrators who write position descriptions and hire professional staff are unaware of differences between clinical and public health dental practitioners. A marketing plan has been developed to address this lack of awareness about proper use of dental public health professionals. Its main goal is to establish more appropriate personnel and employment practices within dental public health. The expected outcomes of this plan could assist both recipients of dental public health services and members of the profession. The purpose of this article is to introduce the marketing strategy to dental public health professionals.